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Josephine Pendergast's avatar

I look forward to you visual journal every week and loved this weeks spread.

I am going on a holiday to London and Europe in two weeks and am currently putting together my sketchbook kit. What do you include in yours?

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Helen C Stark's avatar

I would stick to your favourite essentials (mine are Neocolor II and pencils mainly, if you’re interested I posted an in-depth list of what I took to Paris to my paid subscribers, about 2 weeks ago 🙂) and travel light. If you have too much choice while sketching, you’ll spend precious time trying to pick materials instead of just drawing. Less choice, more action! 😊

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Josephine Pendergast's avatar

Thank you Helen

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Beverly Duncan-Midgett's avatar

I love reading these posts and the encouragement it gives me!

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Helen C Stark's avatar

Aw this means a lot, thanks so much! Really glad it’s encouraging!

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Sabrina Ahmed's avatar

I've been doing a creative reflective and art journalling practice for a year now as part of my art-based coaching diploma. I've found it so helpful in exploring and making meaning from my inner and external experiences. Love seeing your process here 🙌

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Helen C Stark's avatar

Hey Sabrina, lovely to hear from you. An art-based coaching diploma sounds very interesting! Creative journaling has helped me tremendously over the years with working my way through post-natal depression (twice) and other times of real heartache. 😀

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Sabrina Ahmed's avatar

Hi Helen, the diploma has been great and opened my mind to other possibilities. Need to do my final submission and then I'm done! Glad you've found a creative process to help with your post-natal depression and other challenges - that sounds so tough. We need our creative thing that gives us comfort, reflection and a way to find solutions for our unique situations ❤️

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Helen C Stark's avatar

Yes absolutely true.

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Emma Carpendale's avatar

I love seeing your process Helen and watching your pages develop. What an amazing trip, I'm feeling the need to get back to Paris after watching this!

I have a couple of nature journals and I often struggle to make a weekly or regular commitment to them. Sometimes it's just due to lack of time and my attention being pulled to other areas of my creative practice or business, sometimes I get overwhelmed by what to include, particularly this time of year when the natural world is buzzing with energy and activity. So I often end up creating nothing in my journal! 🫣

I need to find ways of being selective about what to include and ensuring I carve out that time, even if it's once a month or fortnight. But seeing your journals keeps me inspired, thank you for sharing 😊

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Helen C Stark's avatar

I loved reading this. Regular carved out time definitely helps (or else there’s always something else that needs done, especially when your studio is in your home!). Will persevere with this weekly journal. 👍🏻 Thanks for your kind words.

Ps: Paris is always a good idea 🇫🇷❤️

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Emma Carpendale's avatar

Gosh yes, the perils of working from home! I'm getting better at ignoring the massive pile of washing though! 😆

I'm going to find ways to make time for my nature journal, even if I draw one thing every other week. I know I'll regret it if I don't. Thank you 🙏

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RHEA A ABRAMSON's avatar

I struggle with making the time to draw everything. I want to but I end up drawing a few things each day and then have to play catch up when I’m home. What book are you using for your visual journal?

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Helen C Stark's avatar

I totally relate. I’m constantly learning how to be at peace with the amount of drawing I’ve managed (whether that’s lots or v little). Do you enjoy that catch up time at home or does it feel like a chore? I started this weekly visual journal the first week of January and happened to have a Royal Talens at home so that’s I’m using. But I’ll probably shift to a bigger size next year.

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Faith Newton's avatar

I love your trip focus. Maybe your creativity and energy was poured out there this week, if you de your spread lacks magic? (It still looks good to me).

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Helen C Stark's avatar

I was wondering the same, maybe that's it. You would expect it to be the perfect warm up session but maybe it was just too hard to represent it all in such a small, narrow space. I may still turn the page and try again.

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